Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Busts Meth Operation, Arrests Suspected Supplier

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Six and a half pounds of Mexican meth, also known as "Ice," has been taken off the street by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. It's the second meth bust in the last week.

Darrell Weaver, director of OBN, says the meth had a street value of $150,000 and was en route to Pottawatomie, Pontotoc and Seminole counties.

"The number one threat to the citizens in the state of Oklahoma is the Hispanic sell groups that have infiltrated rural Oklahoma," Weaver said.

In terms of meth making in the metro area, the numbers are down a bit largely because the sales of pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in meth, is now monitored. But what's more of a concern for agents is the Mexican form of the drug that is now making its way into small Oklahoma communities.

"It's very disturbing," said Weaver. "This is a huge ice seizure for the state."

The large seizure is disturbing, OBN says, not just because of the volume, but because of where it was found.

"To think that in rural Oklahoma we have this type of ice consumption in those counties troubles me, Weaver said.

Officers arrested 34-year-old Jesus Ceniceros Jr., a suspected major supplier of Mexican methamphetamine, in connection to a year-long undercover investigation.

"This network has been responsible for potentially millions of dollars in methamphetamine being distributed in Pottawatomie, Pontotoc and Seminole counties, and millions of dollars in illegal drug proceeds sent back to Mexico to the heads of these trafficking networks," Woodward said.

This happened just a few days after Oklahoma County deputies pulled 5.5 pounds of meth out of an SUV on Interstate 35.

"Locally we've seen a decrease in the amount of meth, but the issue has been with a lot of meth coming up from Mexico," Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Mark Myers said.

And often these traffickers already have established contacts who appear to be law-abiding residents of these communities.

"We believe that there are homeland terrorists we need to be aware of, but I submit to you today there are hometown terrorists," Weaver said.

Now the suspects from these separate drug busts remain in custody and all are facing charges of trafficking illegal drugs.